Volume 65,
Issue 1_2,
2006

Extracted from text ... 1
february 2006
mnassa Monthly Notes of the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa
Vol 65 Nos 1 & 2 February 2006
letters
Prof Oliver K. Manuel (University of
Missouri, USA) writes regarding Bruce
Bassett's Commentary (MNASSA, 64
(11&12), 186-188):
I understand that Dr. Basset has a
PhD, agrees with majority opinion, and
has published 50 papers in journals that
use 'a system of international referees ...
for maintaining the quality of science.'
Nevertheless the Emperor was indeed
stark naked, as a child proclaimed in
Hans Christian Andersen's classic story
of "The Emperor's New Suit".
I did not graduate from ..

Extracted from text ... 3
february 2006
It is with deep regret that we have to inform readers of the passing of Peter van
Blommestein. He died on 6 September 2005 at Cape Town.
Peter joined the Society in 1978 and started reporting his observations in 1983.
He worked mostly on occultations (lunar and planetary) and also reported on a variety
of other sightings such as meteors. As an experienced observer and contributor
to observations, Peter became member of Council in 1996 and President of ASSA in
2000-01. He was registered as SS295 at the International Lunar Occultation Centre
in Japan.
In 1983 ..

Extracted from text ... mnassa vol 65 nos 1 & 2
6
Minor Planet Occultation Events Observed in 2005
Brian Fraser
Director: ASSA Occultation Section
Chloe Mountain Astronomical Observatory, PO Box 1017, Henley on Klip, 1962
fraserb@intekom.co.za
The predictions for minor planet occultations
have improved in accuracy over
the past couple of years and this has given
observers more confidence and more
incentive to attempt the events that are
predicted for their location.
One problem that we have is that there
are not enough amateurs observing these
occultations and those that are active are
spread out geographically so that all the
successful observations ..

Apart from local observations, two international expeditions observed the
1882 Transit of Venus from South Africa. The British/South African efforts observed
from four stations, using a total of 11 telescopes while the Americans employed 7
instruments, including the telescope of the ladies seminary where they stayed.
Very few relics survived to this day. Most well known are the two concrete piers in
Touws River. A Dallmeyer equatorial mount was recently discovered at a school in
Somerset West which may have originated at the Touws River site.
At SAAO Cape Town, a typical "transit of Venus" 6-inch Grubb equatorial, used by
Sir David Gill, is still in working condition. The wooden tube 7-inch Merz refractor,
used by George Maclear (son of Sir Thomas), today serves as a finder telescope and
its original "cannon ball bearing" dome and equatorial mount still exists.
The site at Aberdeen Road in the Eastern Cape was recently located using a GPS fix
and the area examined for possible relics. Unfortunately none were found but the
position of the site with respect to Aberdeen Road raises some questions.
The position of the site of the American expedition to Wellington could since be
located within metres after obtaining Simon Newcomb's report, showing that my
previously assumed position was wrong. His report further revealed some interesting
details not known before.

Extracted from text ... 23
february 2006
the astronomical traveller
I've just come back from New Zealand
where I was lucky enough to contact
amateur astronomer Albert Jones,
discoverer of supernova 1987A, who
lives not only in the same town as
my hosts, but in the same suburb! In
chatting, he mentioned the late, much
missed, Danie Overbeek, as well as Jan
Hers, to whom he sent his regards.
Albert Jones is a dedicated variable
star observer, and at the age of 85 still
works every night without fail on the
stars in his programme, which is not
easy when the Sun sets ..

Extracted from text ... mnassa vol 65 nos 1 & 2
24
deepsky delights
Deepsky Delights
by Magda Streicher
[magda@pixie.co.za]
Treasures of Orion
Not only is the end of the year a time for
reflection, it is also a time to share and
welcome in the New Year with friends.
When Orion rises in the east this time of
year it truly feels like an old friend's visit
with a bag full of treasures. Orion has it
all: various objects, all types of nebulae,
and many surprises. This is also the constellation
which I share the most with
dear astronomy friends. So let me ..